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IDOT - US 20 Capacity Bridge Study . City Manager's Office 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 (319) 589-4110 l5ir;~ ~~~ January 11, 1999 Mr. Roger Larsen Project Manager Iowa Department of Transportation 800 Lincoln Way Ames Iowa 50010 Mr. James Moll Hanson Engineers, Inc. 1525 S. Sixth St. Springfield, IL 62703 Dear Mr Larsen and Mr. Moll: This is in response to your December 24, 1998, letter on the scoping process for the U.S. 20 Capacity Improvement Across the Mississippi River. The only area I have a comment on is related to system linkage and traffic counts. I know that a destination study was recently done in Dubuque. One concern I have is that when Highway 20 is four-lane from Rockford to Interstate 35, and Highway 151 is four-lane from Madison, Wisconsin to Highway 380 in Cedar Rapids, Highway 20 will carry many more through trips. This route will be seen as the preferred route west for Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockford, and the north and northwest areas of Chicago, Illinois. I believe your traffic modeling needs to take this into account. Thank you for soliciting my input. sincerel:, J IJ, (J/J ~ ~;1!~ Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork '1MO\ '3\\~\I<a\lG )l. 'd 3l 'J )..1-' 'J SIt-.'1G '\1 \~.wW \,e; 01 \J'd \, 1 ~"\ 66. a 3 f\ \ "~, ~) 3 B /~ ~,~.,_.,..~. ~', HANSO ' '":"" , .... y;;.....::;. ,<~-=-~-.~--t.. .~:.:::-=-=~ ~r~i~.--=- ,,:=~,...:~~~=ic~/~:~,f,;.:--: ENGINE ~ ------.--~ ;"'--.----:-r.,. ....~-.-:.:~, ~@INCORPORAl Engineers, Architects & Scientists December 24, 1998 City Manager Michael Van Milligen City of Dubuque 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Re: Scoping Process US. 20 Capacity Improvement Across the Mississippi River Dubuque County, Iowa/Jo Daviess County, Illinois HEI No. 97S2045 Dear Mr. Milligen: The Iowa Department of Transportation is conducting a study to improve the capacity of US. Route 20 across the Mississippi River. Hanson Engineers Incorporated has been retained by the Iowa Department of Transportation to perform the preliminary engineering studies for the proposed improvement. The studies will address the environmental and engineering considerations of constructing the project. An Environmental Impact Statement is anticipated to assess the effects of the action on the environment. The public involvement process will include public information meetings and a public hearing. We are initiating the scoping process for this project to provide the opportunity for your agency to review the project and assist in defining significant environmental factors. A formal scoping meeting will not be held. Informal coordination and review sessions with interested agencies and organizations will be scheduled if needed. To assist in the evaluation of your agency's interest in the project, we have enclosed a scoping document, please respond in writing or call by January 29, 1999 to: (1) Mr. Roger Larsen Project Manager Iowa Department of Transportation 800 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa 50010 Telephone: (515) 239-1791 1525 S. Sixth Sr. . Springfield, IL 62703-2886 · (217) 788-2450 . Fax: (217) 788-2503 L98Dcc24.DOC Offices nationwide . www.hansonengineers.com 9782045 @ Printed on recycled paper Enclosure L98Dec24.DOC or (2) Mr. James Moll Project Manager Hanson Engineers Incorporated 1525 South Sixth Street Springfield, nIinois 62703-2886 Telephone: (217) 788-2450 Sincerely, HANSON ENGINEERS INCORPORATED ~:~ Partner 97S204S * PRINTED ON RECYCLED P....PER PROJECT APPLICANT: Submitted By: PROJECT LOCATION: PROJECT DATA: Highway Number: Type: Purpose: Length: Project Costs: Project Number: FEDERAL AGENCY AND PROGRAM: Iowa Intergovernmental Review System LETTER OF INTENT Iowa Department of Transportation Dennis Tice, Director Planning & Programming Division Dubuque County, Iowa and Jo Daviess County, Illinois U.S. Route 20 Highway Improvement Reduce congestion at the existing river crossing (Julien Dubuque Bridge), accommodate anticipated increases in traffic volume, and provide the most direct route for traffic crossing the river. Approximately six to eight miles A. Federal Request (80%) B. State Request (20%) C. Local and Other Contributions Total Estimated Project Costs: Costs to be determined BRF-20-9(149)--38-31 1. Federal Highway Administration Iowa Department of Transportation Illinois Department of Transportation 2. Highway Trust Fund ESTIMATED APPLICATION DATE: APPLICATION MANAGER: Intent.DOC Bruce Matzke, Acting Division Administrator Federal Highway Administration Ames,IA 50010 9782045 SCOPING DOCUMENT U.S. 20 CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DUBUQUE COUNTY, lOW AlJO DA VIESS COUNTY, ILLINOIS INTRODUCTION This scoping packet has been prepared to aid in determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the environmental analyses of the proposed capacity improvement for U.S. Route 20 across the Mississippi River between Dubuque, Iowa and East Dubuque, Dlinois. The study area for this project begins west of US. Route 61 and extends across the Mississippi east to southeast of the City of East Dubuque, Illinois (see Figure 1). Within this study area, two primary corridors are available. The southern corridor extends from US. Route 20 west of Dubuque around the south of the city and connects to US. Route 20 south of East Dubuque. This corridor traverses primarily rural agricultural lands in Iowa and the Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Illinois before connecting back into U.S. Route 20 at a point about three to four miles south of East Dubuque. The estimated length of this corridor is about eight miles. The northern corridor is primarily urban,. and extends from Locust Street in Dubuque to Barge Terminal Road near the southeast city limits of East Dubuque. This corridor is centered on the existing Julien Dubuque Bridge which currently carries US. Route 20 across the Mississippi River. The estimated length of this corridor is about four miles. This packet is being circulated to initiate the scoping process required of federally funded projects. A formal scoping meeting is not planned. Comments on this document and requests for further involvement in the study should be directed to the Iowa Department of Transportation before January 30, 1999. Comments should be directed to: Roger Larsen Project Manager Iowa Department of Transportation 800 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa 50010 DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES This improvement is being developed for federal funding participation. Current regulations covering development of federally-funded highway improvements require early coordination with units of government who may have interests in the project or its potential impacts. This scoping document is intended to provide early notification of the proposed project and to solicit comments regarding the potential impacts of such an action. Other formal opportunities to comment on the project will follow at a later date. Some federal, state, and local agencies will also be contacted directly to request their early input as part of project impactidentification process. Dbqscp.txt 24-Dec-98 JLB Free .. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT The purpose of the capacity improvement is to reduce congestion at the existing river crossing (Julien Dubuque Bridge), accommodate anticipated increases in traffic volume, and provide the most direct route for traffic crossing the river. The proposed project is needed to provide system linkage, improve traffic operations, correct roadway deficiencies, and to provide improved access across the Mississippi River. System Linka2e The Iowa Department of Transportation (IADOT) has improved U.S. Route 20 to four lanes through much of eastern and central Iowa. In addition, significant upgrades have been made to U.S. Route 61 and U.S. Route 20 in Dubuque. The Illinois Department of Transportation plans to upgrade U.S. Route 20 to a four lane expressway from East Dubuque to Rockford. This will result in a four lane freeway/expressway connecting Interstate 380 at Waterloo, Iowa with Interstates 39 and 90 at Rockford, Illinois. The Julien Dubuque Bridge is a two lane segment in the center of this 200 mile long, four lane link. In addition, IADOT is currently improving U.S. Route 61 to four lanes from Dubuque to the quad cities, where it connects to Interstates 80 and 74. Traffic ODerations ,. . .. Dubuque and the surrounding area have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Planned highway improvements in Dubuque including extension of the Northwest Arterial and construction of the proposed Southwest Arterial will likely encourage additional development. Developments on the Dubuque riverfront have also served to increase traffic into and through the central business district. Improvements to U.S. Route 20 outside of Dubuque will likely result in increased trips across the Mississippi River. The result will be increased traffic congestion at the bridge. Roadwav Deficiencies The existing facility has a number of deficiencies. The existing bridge was completed in 1949. Some of the approach spans were replaced in the early 1990's. The roadway on the existing bridge is 28 feet wide face to face of barriers. There is no shoulder to provide for errant or disabled vehicles. Six to 10 foot wide shoulders would be required to meet current design criteria. The roadway tapers from four lanes to two lanes at the east and west approaches to the bridge. The east approach has very short entrance and exit ramps with very tight curves and poor sight distance. Dbqscp.txt 24-Dec-98 JLB Free The age of the existing bridge, coupled with high traffic volumes, results in a need for frequent maintenance. The main span will continue to have high maintenance costs. It is necessary to close one lane of traffic to inspect the bridge, resulting in further impacts to traffic flow. Social Demands The existing bridge provides the primary link between Illinois and the employment, retail and recreational attractions of Dubuque. Major barge terminals are located at each end of the bridge. Rail facilities are also located at each end of the bridge. Capacity improvements are necessary to maintain quality access to these intermodal facilities. . Residents in East Dubuque and Jo Daviess County rely on Dubuque for medical facilities. There is no hospital or emergency care facility in East Dubuque. Most of the ambulance service for East Dubuque originates in Dubuque. The existing bridge is a vital link in providing these emergency services. Improvements to the river crossing would assure future access to these facilities for East Dubuque residents. Transportation Demand The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study has included a four lane improvement of U.S. Route 20 across the Mississippi River in their transportation plan adopted in January 1995. . Lesdslation The Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21 st Century (TEA-21) included the capacity improvement of U.S. 20 at the Mississippi River as a high priority project. Funding of$28 million was included in TEA-21. PROPOSED ACTION The proposed action is to provide additional capacity on U.S. Route 20 across the Mississippi River. Alternatives to be considered for providing additional capacity include the no action alternative, providing a new four lane bridge at the current bridge location, providing a new two lane bridge adjacent to the existing bridge to serve as a one-way couple, or providing a new four lane crossing south of the existing bridge and south of the urban areas of Dubuque and East Dubuque. A Location Report and an environmental document (anticipated to be an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)) will be prepared in accordance with IADOT and Federal guidance including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Public informational meetings will be held during the project to present the project status and receive input from the public. A public hearing will be held following publication of the Draft EIS. Dbqscp.txt 24-Dec-98 JLB Free AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Planning for this project will focus on minimizing impacts while providing a system to meet the transportation needs which have been identified. Potential impacts which have been identified for this project include natural resource impacts, cultural resource impacts, impacts to 4(f) resources, socioeconomic impacts, and impacts from contaminated sites. No adverse air quality impacts are anticipated. Natural resources within the study area will be identified through records research and field surveys. Given the urban nature of the northern corridor, it is unlikely that significant natural resources are present in most of the corridor. However, any realignment of U.S. Route 20 in East Dubuque could impact floodplains, wetlands and riparian habitat. The southern corridor crosses the Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Refuge, and would be expected to have a greater impact on natural resources. Wetlands which may be impacted will be identified based on u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory maps (NWI), Natural Resources Conservation Service wetland maps, hydric soils maps and aerial photographs. All potential wetland areas within the preferred alternative will be determined and delineated in accordance with the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. National Register sites, structures arid districts and areas of prior archaeological surveys will be identified through review of the records of the Illinois and Iowa Archaeological Surveys. Once a preferred alternative has been selected, a Phase I cultural resources survey will be conducted for the area of potential disturbance. Potentially significant archaeological sites identified in the Phase I survey may be recommended for Phase IT investigations. Standing structures which would be affected will be inventoried. Structures predating 1940 may be evaluated for their potential historical and architectural significance based on the criteria established for the National Register of Historic Places. Section 4(f) resources will be identified through coordination with appropriate resource agencies. Formal coordination under Section 4(f) may be initiated as soon as a potential adverse impact to these resources is identified. Socioeconomic impacts may occur through relocation of residences and businesses, tax losses to public taxing bodies from land acquisition, access changes, induced development from improved transportation, and direct and indirect impacts of project construction. It is probable that any alternative which would satisfy the project purpose and need would result in residential and business displacements. The northern corridor traverses areas of Dubuque and East Dubuque that have been in industrial use for over 100 years. The environmental surveys will likely include evaluation of all properties to be acquired under the preferred alternative. Additional, intrusive investigations may be conducted for properties which are potentially contaminated. Dbqscp.txt 24-Dec-98 JLB Free SCHEDULE This study was initiated in November 1998. Background data for the Study Area have been collected and potential alignment corridors within the Study Area identified. In addition, an origin and destination study has been conducted to identify the nature and desired destination of traffic currently using the Julien Dubuque Bridge. Based on data obtained from that study, preliminary assessments of potential impacts and costs, and input received from this scoping process, it is expected that the study will be focused on one corridor, and that multiple alternatives within that corridor will be selected for additional study. Additional opportunities to comment on the project will be available during periodic public informational meetings and during the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. ,. . ~ Dbqscp.txt 24-Dec-98 JLB Free . . u.s. 20 Capacity Improvement across the Mississippi River Dubuque County, Iowa, to Jo Daviess County, Illinois Figure 1 DUbuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study ~.. Iowa Department ~., of Transportation ~ ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION In This Issue What is the U.S. 20 study? What are the project stages? CAPACllY IMPROVEMENT OF U.S. 20 ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIvER Meet your project team This is yourconnection:, Here is your first edition of The U.S. 20 Connection, a newsletter prepared by the Iowa Department of Transportation and Hanson Engineers Inc. , Hanson Engineers, a national engineering, architectural and scientific consulting f'rrm headquartered in. ..~ Springfield, Ill., has been retained to " conduct a study of capacity improvements for U.S. 20 across the Mississippi River. This edition is the first of five newsletters you may receive during this study. The purPose ofthisnewsletter is to provide you with up-ta-date informa- tion about the study and to answer your questions. You will receive upcoming issues of The U.S. 20 Connection in the mail if you sign in at any of the public meetings, or if you contact the project team to add your name to the mailing list. . " 'We hav planned three public information'~ ....... done public ',' hearing. e Wl announce upcoming public m . .', if, media and in ' this newsletter , If you have any questIons, sugges- tions for articles, infoTniation for the" ' study team, Or if you want toadd your name to the mailin list, lea tact: U.S. 20 Capacity Improvement P.O. Box 852,' " .::. ; Dubuque, IA 52004-0852 , ' Phone: (319) 585-0127 i'<>;,';;,;,,,:," ~, j<C;;h,;Z';',' \\ISCOt..SIN _.._ -ILUNi:iiS"_u ...... , \ \ Proposed ~\ Southwest " Arterial 61 N i V, 1 mile , Study Area Anticipated growth prompts study In recent years, Dubuque, East Dubuque and surrounding areas have experienced rapid growth. Developments on the Dubuque riverfront have also increased traffic in and through the central business districts. Extension of the Northwest Arterial and the planned Southwest Arterial may lead to additional development of this area. The Iowa Department of Transportation has expanded U.S. 20 to four lanes through much of eastern and central Iowa to accom- modate this area's existing and future traffic needs. The Iowa DOT has also improved U.S. 61 and the U.S. 20/Locust Street intersection in Dubuque. The Illinois Department of Transporta- tion plans to upgrade U.S. 20 to a four-lane road from East Dubuque to Rockford, Ill. Continued upgrades to U.S. 20 will improve the roadway but may also increase traffic and congestion on the two-lane Julien Dubuque Bridge-restricting traffic flow along an otherwise 200-mile, four-lane expressway. November Connection What is the U.S. 20 study? This study will help the Iowa Department of Transportation and other agencies identify ways to improve U.S. 20's capacity to handle increasing volumes of traffic, specifically on and near the Julien Dubuque Bridge. A total of $28 million has been appropri- ated by Congress for this improvement project with the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st century (TEA-21). This bill, signed into law in June 1998, designated $198 billion in federal funds to transportation projects nationwide over the next six years. During this study, the project team will investigate various alternatives in an area between the proposed Southwest Arterial and the existing Julien Dubuque Bridge. The project team will then recommend one alternative that best achieves the purpose of the project and minimizes the impact to property owners and the environment. Here are some of the questions Hanson Engineers will address: . Should the proposed improvement be constructed? . If so, what type of improvement should it be? . How should a proposed improvement connect to other roads and streets in the area? . How will the proposed improvement affect adjacent properties and the community as a whole? After completing the study, the project team will detail its findings in a report and an environmental impact statement. To see how this study will progress, please refer to the t10wchart shown on the right. Study divided into three stages The study, which began in October 1998, is expected to take 30 months to complete. The study has been divided into three stages: 1. Preliminary alternative selection- The project team will review several improve- ment alternatives, and will select alternatives which merit further investiga- tion. Two public informational meetings 2 Connection Issue I and two newsletters are anticipated during this stage of the study. 2. Detailed study of selected alternatives- During this stage, the project team will conduct in-depth studies of the alterna- tives selected during stage I. We anticipate one public informational meeting and two newsletters during this stage of the study. 3. Recommendation and final docu- ments-The project team will present its recommendation and documents at a public hearing. After the public has reviewed results from the study, the coordinating agencies will select one alternative using engineering, environ- mental and socio-economic consider- ations. The team will prepare one project newsletter during this stage to announce the recommended alternative. Traffic study begins One of the first steps in any transporta- tion study is identifying the existing condi- tions. To determine how the Dubuque bridge is currently being used, members of the project team conducted an origin and destination survey at the Dubuque terminus on Nov. 10, 1998. The survey. which was distributed at the U.S. 20 and Locust Street Definitions Abutment - The end foundation upon which the bridge superstructure rests. Alignment - The path a road follows. Approach span - The horizontal segments of a bridge leading up to the main spans. At-grade intersection - Two intersecting roads with stop signs or signals for traffic control. Average daily traffic - The average number of vehicles using a road over a 24-hour period. Capacity - The number of vehicles a road can accommodate. Cultural resources - Any prehistoric or historic district, archaeological or historic site, building. structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Deck - The floor or roadway of a bridge. Easement - An acquired right to use land by someone other than the legal owner for a specific period of time or permanently. Approach spans intersection, consisted of seven questions printed on a prepaid postcard. Questions included where the trip began and where it would end, and whether a return trip would be made across the bridge that day. Other information about intermediate stops and trip purposes were also included in the survey. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - A report documenting the significant environmental impacts of alternative transportation improvements under consideration. The EIS analyzes ways to avoid impacts and how to minimize those impacts that cannot be avoided. Grade separation - A road that goes over or under another road or railroad without connecting to the road or railroad being crossed. An example of a grade separa- tion is Third Street over Highway 61. Interchange - Similar to a grade separation except that the road being crossed is connected to the road going over it. Common interchange types include the diamond, the clover leaf. the partial cloverleaf and the trumpet. An example of a diamond interchange is Grandview Avenue at Highway 61. Main span - The horizontal segments of a bridge that cross the navigational channel. 1< Main span This data is extremely important because it provides an accurate picture of how the bridge affects travel patterns in Dubuque. Not only does this let us more accurately identify the impact of making changes to the transpor- tation system at the bridge, but it also gives us insight into the potential social and economic impacts of these changes. Pile - A long column made of steel, concrete or timber, driven into the ground, sometimes under the water, to support a bridge. Pier - The main support for the interior part of the bridge. Piers may be solid concrete walls or a concrete cap supported by columns. Right-oC-way - The land secured and reserved for the public for roads, sidewalks, utilities, etc. Substructure - The vertical. or supporting parts of the bridge-the piers and abutments. Superstructure - The horizontal parts of the bridge-the part that spans the river. Wetland - An area that is wet for a period long enough to support plants adapted for saturated soil conditions. Wetlands are important for storm water retention, threatened and endangered species' habitat, soil retention, and removal of harmful chemicals from surface and ground water supplies. ., November Connection 3 . Meet your project team The project team consists of several governmental agencies including the following: . City of Dubuque; . City of East Dubuque; . Dubuque County; . Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transporta- tion Study; . Illinois Department of Transportation; . Iowa Department of Transportation; and . 10 Daviess County. The Iowa Department of Transportation heads the project team with assistance from Hanson Engineers. Hanson Engineers will have primary responsibility for engineering and environmental studies. To gain a better understanding of the project area and the communities' needs, Hanson Engineers has teamed with IIW Engineers and Surveyors Inc. of Dubuque, ~.... Iowa Department ~, of Transportation ~HANSON ~~~~,IJ~HoRS U.S. 20 Capacity Improvement Across the Mississippi River P.O. Box 852 Dubuque, IA 52004-0852 4 Connection Issue 1 Iowa. IIW is responsible for data collection, surveying and drainage analysis. The team also includes the following: Crawford, Bunte, Brammeier-St. Louis, Mo. Crawford, Bunte, Brammeier will provide traffic analysis during this study. They will determine where traffic is coming from and where it is going. They will also project how much traffic may use the various alternatives 20 years in the future. Leah Rogers-Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Leah Rogers will conduct the cultural resource studies to identify significant historic and prehistoric sites. Sites may consist of old buildings, cemeteries, or Indian campsites. The Countryman Group-Iowa City, Iowa. The Countryman Group will determine what economic impacts the various alternatives will have on the study area. They will evaluate impacts on residents and businesses. Martinez Corp.-St. Paul, Minn. Martinez Corp. will provide aerial photography. The project team will use the aerial photographs to layout road alignments and to display at the public meetings. Your involvement is important Your input is important to us. Your feedback will help us identify the best solution to meet your community's transporta- tion needs. If you have any questions or comments throughout this study, please fill out the comment forms provided at the public meetings, call the project phone line at (3 19) 585-0127 or visit ?ur Web site at www.us20.com. We look forward to hearing from you and to receiving your feedback.